"Towards better nutrition, higher levels of income and improved general well-being of the overwhelming sector, the rural farming families... through the conservation, propagation and promotion of water buffalo as important source of milk and meat, in addition to draft power and hide."

The Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) operates as an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA). PCC is mandated under Republic Act No. 7307 or the Philippine Carabao Act of 1992 to conserve, propagate and promote the carabao or native buffalo as a source of milk and meat as well as draft animal power and hide to benefit the rural farmers.

In 2008, PCC took on an additional mandate per DA Administrative Order No. 9, series 2008, as the National Lead Agency for Livestock Biotechnology Research and Development.